MLB News

Police say fan injured at Fenway is 'recovering'

By
Alec ShirkeyMLB.com

BOSTON -- Tonya Carpenter, the fan who suffered serious injuries after being struck by a broken bat during Friday night's game between the A's and Red Sox at Fenway Park, is recovering and expected to survive, according to Officer Rachel McGuire, a spokesperson for the Boston Police Department.

Carpenter was admitted to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, according to the Boston Police Department. She had been sitting with her son and a friend at the time of the incident, which occurred around 7:40 p.m. ET.

BOSTON -- Tonya Carpenter, the fan who suffered serious injuries after being struck by a broken bat during Friday night's game between the A's and Red Sox at Fenway Park, is recovering and expected to survive, according to Officer Rachel McGuire, a spokesperson for the Boston Police Department.

Carpenter was admitted to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, according to the Boston Police Department. She had been sitting with her son and a friend at the time of the incident, which occurred around 7:40 p.m. ET.

Beth Israel spokeswoman Kelly Lawman said Carpenter was in serious condition as of Saturday afternoon.

Carpenter's family, the Red Sox and Major League Baseball issued statements on Saturday.

"Tonya Carpenter was admitted to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center last night following injury at Fenway Park," the family's statement read. "She is in serious condition. Tonya's family and loved ones are grateful to all who have reached out with thoughts and prayers, but are requesting privacy at this time as Tonya recovers."

The Red Sox issued the following statement: "A woman was injured by a broken bat that flew into the stands in the top of the second inning of last night's game. The fan was immediately transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she is being treated. All of us offer our prayers and our thoughts as we wish her a speedy recovery."

MLB released the following statement: "We will continue to keep her and her family in our thoughts and prayers. We appreciate the efforts of the Red Sox, the first responders, the Boston Police Department and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Fan safety is our foremost goal for all those who choose to support our game by visiting our ballparks, and we will always strive for that experience to be safe and fan-friendly."

Before Saturday's game at Fenway Park, there was a moment of reflection for Carpenter.

"I got sick," Red Sox left fielder Hanley Ramirez said on Saturday. "It's bad. I couldn't sleep last night. I went to bed late. I actually posted something on Instagram. Everybody just pray. It's not good. Hopefully she gets back and feels better."

While grounding out to second in the second inning on Friday, Oakland third baseman Brett Lawrie shattered his bat, part of which went flying into the box seats on the third-base side. The medical staff applied first aid to the injured fan, who was bleeding heavily from the injury, before she was placed onto a gurney with the help of police officers and other Fenway personnel. They carted her past the Red Sox's dugout and off the field.

"Well, it's a scary moment," Boston manager John Farrell said after the Sox completed a 4-2 victory that felt entirely unimportant in light of the unfortunate incident. "All you can think about is a family coming to a ballgame to hopefully get three hours of enjoyment. Unfortunately, with how close our stands are to the field of action, an accident like this tonight is certainly disturbing. Our thoughts and concerns are with her and her family."

The game was delayed for several minutes while Carpenter received treatment.

"As soon as I hit it, I had to get out of the box," Lawrie said. "I saw some commotion behind home plate, and I didn't really know because I was running the bases. In between innings, that's when things got serious. Hopefully everything is OK and she's doing all right."

A's manager Bob Melvin said Lawrie's thoughts have been with the fan in the days following the accident, and Lawrie reportedly sent flowers and a card to Carpenter in the hospital.

"Do the best you can with it," Melvin said on Sunday. "It's a sad situation. There's nothing he could have done about it. Just say your prayers. You still have a job to do out here, but I know he thinks about it quite a bit."

Boston center fielder Mookie Betts could hear the woman crying out in pain. He, too, expressed concern for her well-being.

"I heard her, I saw some blood and kind of turned around and looked away," Betts said. "It's definitely scary. It's scary for anybody. Again, go home and pray and hopefully everything's OK."

Lawrie called what happened an unfortunate reminder that fans sitting close to the plate need to be aware at all times.

"You've got limited netting here in Boston," Lawrie said. "When you're behind home plate and you're along the third-base side and first-base side, you've really got to be heads-up for foul balls, anything coming into the stands, because it's so close there's really no time to react."